The Injuries Board said today the number of cases it was handling had levelled off this year following a steady increase since it was set up in 2004.
The Injuries Board, formerly the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Piab), said it made 4,402 awards to claimants for a total of €105 million during the first six months of the year.
Almost three-quarters, or 73 per cent, of the awards related to road collisions, 16 per cent were public liability cases and 11 per cent were workplace accidents.
There was a 4 per cent rise in the volume of new claims during the first half of the year, with road collision and public liability claims up 6 per cent and three per cent respectively, according to the board.
The highest award during the first six months of the year was €493,902, while the lowest was €1,000.
According to a statement from the Injuries Board, 88 per cent of the awards are for less than €38,000 and that the average time taken to make an award is just under seven months. The average award made during the first half of this year was €23,932, down 1.6 per cent on the same period in 2008.
Piab was set up in 2004 as part of reforms announced by the Government to address high costs, especially legal, associated with personal injury claims.
All personal injuries claims, except medical negligence, must be brought before the board. However, a claimant can chose to have the case heard in the courts.